The Mindful Traveler - Business of the Month

September 2011

The Mindful Traveler has been named the September 2011 Business of the Month. The Business of the Month award is co-sponsored by the Kernersville News and the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce.

After a five year hiatus from the travel business during which he further developed his skills as a marketing consultant, Bruce Frankel founded The Mindful Traveler in Kernersville in January 2007.

“I have to credit my wife Kathi, who is also now the CFO of the agency for suggesting I consider getting back into the travel industry,” commented Bruce Frankel, President of The Mindful Traveler.

“When I started looking at the recent enhancements to the technological aspect of the business, I realized it was the perfect time to engage in a business I have always enjoyed. Where in the past I had focused our agency on corporate and business travel, it became clear that the future was more aligned for vacation travel and what could be better than that - Helping fulfill people’s dreams, one vacation at a time!” smiled Frankel.

Frankel founded The Mindful Traveler as a fully accredited independent travel agency so they could offer the widest range of products and provide his outside travel consultants the tools they need to assist their diverse customer base. With several independent agents working around the country for the company, Frankel is looking to expand his base with like-minded agents who can deliver the same quality of professional service.

‘The travel agent’s role has changed over the years from being a point of distribution to being more of a travel advisor or as I prefer, travel consumer advocate. Bruce continued, ‘consumers have more and better ways to research different vacation options and working closely with our clients, we can help narrow the choice that is best for them as well as be an easy contact resource before and after the vacation should any questions arise. Clients are often thankful of the extra travel tips we provide since they might not be familiar with the specific destination or the current conditions. And the best news is that we do not charge a fee for our service since we accept the basic referral fee we receive from travel suppliers such as hotels, cruise ships, resorts and tour companies who appreciate the work we do to help make sure their guests have a wonderful vacation experience.’

“Ninety percent of our business is booking vacations outside the domestic USA and I take great pride in creating opportunities for people to experience diverse cultures first hand as well as see incredible sites. If we do our job right, all of our vacationers become ‘Mindful Travelers’!

Once Bruce came to Kernersville he immediately became an active member of our Community. In addition to being a current sponsor and chairperson for the Chamber Academy Committee, he also participates on the Kernersville Chamber Ambassador Committee, Business Affairs, Education as well as the Showcase Committees. In addition he is the current co-President of the Kernersville Business Association and the Chairperson for the Town’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee.

 ‘We all talk about the concept of the gift of receiving through giving of one first and there is no better example than here in the Town of Kernersville! I am so humbled by all the great and wonderful people I know who are always there to offer their help, their support, their simile and their friendship. I feel proud to call Kernersville our home.’ Bruce added.